April 17, 2009

Speaking Up About the Day of Silence

By Selwyn Duke

Today marks the 13th annual “Day of Silence,”
an activist endeavor ostensibly designed to draw attention to the
“problem” of “anti-gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgender" bullying. Now
officially sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network
(GLSEN — They’re missing a few sexual designations there. It’s hard to
keep pace with the times), participating students take a vow to speak
only when necessary on the appointed day, and some will express their
sentiments in other ways as well. Maggie Owner writing at
CivilRights.org provides a brief synopsis of the history, scope, and methods of the event:

The first Day of Silence was organized in
1996 by students at the University of Virginia. A year later, nearly
100 colleges and universities participated. Last year, more than 8,000
middle schools, high schools, and universities participated nationwide.

This year students are choosing different ways to spread the word about
the Day of Silence. Some are using Twitter to encourage people to
participate. Others are wearing face masks with an “X” over the mouth
to represent their silence or t-shirts with messages like, “Gay? Fine
by me.”